The Blessed Buddha explained the treasure of generosity like this:When a disciple of the Noble Ones whose mind andmentality is all cleared of disgracing miserliness,living at home, is freely generous and open-handed,delighting in being magnanimous,responsive to every request and,is enjoying the giving of any alms.Such is this treasure called generosity.AN VII 6

Just as a filled pot, which is overturned,pours out all its water, leaving nothing back,even and exactly so should one give to those in need.whether low, middle or high, like the overturned pot,holding nothing back…!!!Jataka Nidana [128-129]

The Generosity of Giving,The Kindness in Speech,The Benefit of Service,The Impartiality of treating all Alike,These 4 threads of Sympathyupholds this world, like the axle do the cart! AN II 32

Giving food, one gives and later gets strengthGiving clothes, one gives and later gets beautyGiving light, one gives and later gets visionGiving transportation, one gives and later gets ease.Giving shelter one gives all,Yet one who instructs in the True Dhamma- The supreme Teaching of the Buddhas -Such one gives the quite divine ambrosia! SN I 32

These are these five rewards of generosity:One is liked and charming to people at large,One is admired and respected by wise people,One's good reputation is spread wide about,One does not neglect a householder's true duty,and with the break-up of the body - at the momentof death - one reappears in a happy destination,in the plane of the divine worlds! AN V.35

There are these two kinds of gifts:material gifts and gifts of Dhamma.The supreme gift is that of Dhamma.There are these two kinds of sharing:material sharing and sharing of Dhamma.The supreme sharing is that of Dhamma.There are these two kinds of help:Material help and help with the Dhamma.This is the supreme of the two:help with this subtle Dhamma … It 98

The gift of Dhamma exceeds all other gifts. Dhammapada 354

The Bodhisatta once as king Sivi gaveboth his eyes to a beggar who was Sakka theking deity in disguise, who desired to test him.He remembered "While I was wishing to give,while I was giving and after this giving therewas neither contrariety, nor opposition in my mind since it was for the purpose of awakening itself!Neither were these eyes, nor the rest of myselfdisagreeable to me. Omniscience was dear to me,therefore I gave both my eyes." The Basket of Conduct Cariyapitaka I-8 Full story: Sivi Jataka no. 499

The Bodhisatta once as the Wise Hare gave his roasted body as alms to a beggar by jumping into a fire:He remembered: "There came a beggar and asked for food. Myself I gave so that he might eat. In alms-giving there was none equal to me. In alms I had thereby reached the absoluteultimate perfection." From then and the rest of this world-cycle the moon will display a characteristic 'hare-in-the-moon' sign!Sasa-Jataka no. 316

Giving of things, treasures, external possessions, job,position, wife, and child is the first perfection of giving.Giving the offer of one's organs, limbs, and senses isthe second higher perfection of giving.Giving the sacrifice of one's life is the ultimateperfection of giving. The clarifier of sweet meaning 89 (Commentary on Buddhavamsa) Madhuratthavilasini [59] Venerable Buddhadatta: 5th century.

Generosity is the first mental perfection (parami):Clinging and egoism creates internal panic and social tension.Giving and sharing creates internal elation and external harmony...What is gladly given, returns more than thousandfold! Giving requires Relinquishing! Giving is Anti-Clinging!Giving is the opposite mental state of Greed...

Avoiding all Harm!Doing only Good...Purifying the Mind:This is the True Dhamma of all the Buddhas! Dhammapada 183

Morality is the foundation,the initiator and the origin of all,that is fine, good and very beautiful...One must therefore purify true morality! Theragatha 612

All success is rooted in a clean morality, cultivated to purity!Theragatha 608

Morality is a mighty Power!Morality is a forceful Weapon!Morality is a supreme Jewel!Morality is a marvellous Protection!Theragatha 614

Harmlessness towards all living beings,Speaking only kind and wise truths,Taking nothing not freely given,Enjoying only one's own partner,Never abusing drinks or drugs.Having given up and left all behindthese five harmful actions, such Good One truly possesses right morality... AN III 205-6

Ananda once asked the Buddha:"What, Venerable Sir, is the rewarding advantage of morality?""Freedom from regret, Ananda!""And what is the advantage of freedom from regret?""Joy that produces bliss, Ananda.Bliss then generates happiness.Happiness enables concentration.Concentration facilitates vision and knowledge.Vision and knowledge brings disillusion and detachmentDisillusion and detachment induces direct experience of certain and complete mental release, Ananda…" AN X.1

Intention always comes first!Intention is of all states the primer.By intention are all things initiated.By construction of mind are all phenomena formed.So - if with good intention one thinks, speaks or acts:Joy and pleasure surely follows one, like a never-leaving shadowHowever - if with evil intention one thinks, speaks or acts:Pain certainly follows one, like the wheel follows the car.Dhammapada 1+2

Both the moral and immoral doings:Both the good and the bad behaviour;That human beings do here;These are truly only their own possession...!!!These, they take along with them, when they die, go and rearise,These actions, good, neutral and bad are what follows them, like the shadow, that never ever leaves...So do only what is admirable and advantageous,as an accumulating investment for the future life!Good prior doings are the only support and help for all beings, when they re-arise in the world of the next state of being… SN III 4

Here and now the good-doer rejoices... Even so after passing away and re-emerging, the doer of good, reaps only joy, pleasure and satisfaction ...So both here and there, the wise with merit well done and stored, enjoys the moral purity of prior actions. Dhammapada 15

Here and now the bad-doer suffers... Even so after passing away and re-emerging, the doer of wrong and evil, reaps only pain, discontent, despair, and regret ...So both here and there, the fool with wrong viewsand bad behaviour, suffers agony as the inevitableeffect of prior evil behaviour. Dhammapada 16

As the yak-ox watch her tail even onto death,without breaking through, when caught in thorns,guard your doings as your own life, by avoiding alloverstepping of this fine line, between right and wrong. The Basket of Behaviour, Cariyapitaka

The Bodhisatta once as the Naga serpent King Sankhapalaguarded his precepts of moral habit, even when tortured:Though pierced with sharp bamboo stakes and hacked withhunting knives, I raged no anger against these hunters, as thiswas my final perfection of Morality! Sankhapala Jataka no. 524

The 5 precious precepts (pañca-sila): I accept the training rule of avoiding all killing of breathing beings.I accept the training rule of not to take anything, that is not given.I accept the training rule of abstaining from any sexual misconduct.I accept the training rule of desisting from all incorrect speech.I accept the training rule of no drinks or drugs causing carelessness.True Buddhists undertake these precious precepts right here:http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Sangha_Entry.htm

These are timeless laws of only pure good,which all the mighty seers of the pasthave fully followed and made their Way!

This Virtue of Morality is like Rock:A solid foundation for all good states! Immorality creates regret, and thus destroys all joy...Purity creates calm, and thus the subtle concentration,which is necessary for gaining all higher understanding!Only higher Understanding can ever set one completely Free...

Withdrawal is Removal of MiseryWithdrawal is Extraction of Disease.Withdrawal is Pulling out the splinter of Pain.Withdrawal is Retraction from Danger.Withdrawal is Renunciation of Ill.Withdrawal is Letting Go of what is Burning.Withdrawal is Turning Away from what is Sorrow.Withdrawal is Seclusion from what is Grief.Withdrawal is Clearing of Captivating Illusions.Withdrawal is Waking Up from Enthralling Trance.Withdrawal is Freedom from Enslaving Addiction.Withdrawal is Protection from what is Entrapping.Withdrawal is Giving Up what is Detrimental.Withdrawal is Discharge of what is Infested.Withdrawal is Breaking out of the Prison.Withdrawal is Release from all Suffering...

"Back to Nature" by Robert Storm Petersen. (1882 – 1949)

The Withdrawn, as the man newly freed from prisondoes not at all wish himself back in prison!The Basket of Conduct, Cariyapitaka

Infatuated with lust, impassioned and obsessed,they are caught in their own self-created net,like a spider, which spins its own web!Cutting through, the Noble Friend withdraw and go free,Without longing, without greed, leaving all misery behind. Dhammapada 347

The Bodhisatta as the King Culasutasoma gave up his whole kingdom.Knowing withdrawal to be an advantageous victory, he remembered:A mighty kingdom I possessed, as if it was dropped into my hands...Yet all this tantalizing luxury, I let fall and go without any even slight trace of longing or clinging. This was my perfection of Withdrawal... Jataka no. 525

Lust, I say, is a great flood, a whirlpool sucking one down,a constant yearning, seeking a hold, continually active, anddifficult to cross is such morass of sense and sensual desire...A sage does not deviate from the good, but remains steady!A recluse stands on firm ground, when solitarily secluded:When withdrawn from all, truly he is calmed and silenced!Having directly touched the Dhamma, he is independent!He behaves right and does not envy anyone anywhere...He who has left behind all pleasure arisen from sensing,an attachment difficult to cut, is freed of both depression andlonging, since he has cut across this great flood, and is released. Sutta Nipata IV.15

Any being, that cools down all desires and greedy lusts,by being alert and ever aware of the inherent danger,by directing attention only to the disgusting aspects of all phenomena, such a one withdraws from all craving andthereby wears down and breaks the bars of the inner prison. Dhammapada 350

If one gains an infinite ease by leaving a minor pleasure,the clever one would swap the luminous for what is a triflingsense delight, by withdrawing from this trivial banal boredom. Dhammapada 290

The one who has reached the sublime end all perfected,is fearless, freed of craving, freed of desire and detached..Such a one has broken the chains of being and is certainlywithdrawing into the final phase, wearing his last frame...Dhammapada 351

Prince Siddhattha Gotama reflected thus: "Why do I, being subject to birth, decay, disease, death, sorrow and defilement, thus search after things of the same nature? What if I, who am subject to things of such nature, realize their disadvantages and seek the unattained and unsurpassed, perfect security: Nibbana?"

"Cramped and confined is the household life, a den of dust, but the life of the homeless is in the free open air of heaven! Hard is it for him who abides at home to live the Holy Life as it should be lived, in all its trueperfection, and in all its purity.""The household life is a cramped way, choked with dust. To leave it, is like coming out into the free space of open air! It is not easy for one,who lives at home, to live the Noble life completely perfect and pure, bright as mother-of-pearl. Surely I will now shave off my hair and go forth into homelessness."

Only Misery Arises.Only Misery Ceases.Nothing good is thus lost by withdrawing from it all...

The characteristic of patience is acceptance, its function is to endure, and its manifestation is non-opposing tolerance! The cause of patience is understanding how things really are.. The effect of patience is calmtranquility despite presence of intensely stirring provocation..Patience of the will produces forgiving forbearance!Patience of the intellect produces faith, confidence and certainty!Patience of the body produces resolute and tenacious endurance!Internal tolerance of states within oneself is patient endurance...External tolerance of other beings is forbearance and forgiveness...

He who patiently protects himself, protects also all other beings! He who patiently protects all other beings, protects also himself!

Not from speaking much is one called clever.The patient one is free from anger and free from fear,only such steady persisting one, is rightly called clever... Dhammapada 258

Patient tolerance is the highest praxis...Nibbana is the supreme Bliss!So say all the Buddhas.Dhammapada 184

The innocent one, who has done nothing wrong,Who endures abuse, flogging and even imprisonment, Such one, armed with stamina, the great force of tolerance, Such stoic one, who self-possessed can accept, I call a Holy One!Dhammapada 399

One should follow those who are determined, tolerant, and enduring, intelligent, wise, diligent, clever, good-willed and evidently Noble. One shall stick to them as the moon remains in its regular orbit. Dhammapada 208

Friends, even if bandits were to cut you up, savagely, limb by limb, with a two-handled saw, you should not get angry, but do my bidding: Remain pervading them and all others with a friendly Awareness imbued with an all-embracing good-will, kind, rich, expansive, and immeasurable! Free from hostility, free from any ill will. Always remembering this very Simile of the Saw is indeed how you should train yourselves. Majjhima Nikaya 21

The five ways of removing irritating annoyance:Bhikkhus, there are these five ways of removing annoyance, by which any irritation can be entirely removed by a Bhikkhu, when it arises in him.What are these five ways?1: Friendliness can be maintained towards an irritating person or state..2: Understanding can be undertaken towards an irritating person or state..3: On-looking Equanimity can be kept towards an irritating person or state.. 4: One can forget and ignore the irritating person, mental or physical state.. 5: Ownership of Kamma of the irritating person can be reflected upon thus: This good person is owner of his actions, inherit the result his actions, is indeed born of his actions and only he is responsible for his actions be they good or bad. This too is how annoyance with the irksome can be instantly removed. These are the five ways of removing annoyance, and by which anyirritation can be entirely removed in a friend, exactly when it arises... Anguttara Nikaya V 161

Buddha to his son Rahula: Develop an Imperturbable Mind like the elements:Rahula, develop a mind like earth, then contacts of arisen like and dislike will not obsess your mind! Rahula, on the earth is dumped both the pure and the impure: excreta, urine, saliva, pus, blood, but the earth does not detest any of those... Even and exactly so make your mind stable like the earth! Rahula, develop a mind like water, then contacts of arisen pleasure and pain will not seize your mind. Rahula with water both the pure and the impure are cleaned... Washed away with water are excreta, urine, saliva, pus, and blood, yet the water does not despise any of that! Even so make the mind fluid and adaptable like the water! Rahula, develop a mind like fire, then the contacts of any arisen attraction or aversion will neither consume, nor hang on to your mind! Rahula, fire burns both the pure and the impure, burns excreta, urine, saliva, pus, and blood, yet the fire does not loathe any of that.. In the same manner refine the mind into a tool like an all consuming and purifying fire! Rahula, develop a mind similar to space, then contacts of arisen delight and frustration does neither take hold of, nor remain in your mind. Space does not settle anywhere! Similarly make the mind unsettled and unestablished like open space. When you expand mind like space, contacts of delight and frustration will neither be able to dominate, nor obsess your mind...Majjhima Nikaya 62

Honesty is TrustHonesty is TruthfulHonesty is GuaranteeHonesty is Confidence Honesty is ConsistenceHonesty is ConvincingHonesty is CertaintyHonesty is CredibilityHonesty is ReliabilityHonesty is AuthenticityHonesty is IntegrityHonesty is AccuracyHonesty is CommitmentHonesty is SincerityHonesty is SecurityHonesty is RealityHonesty is a Must!

Honesty characteristically never deceives, it's function is to verify what is actual and factual. Honesty's manifestation is sheer excellence...Sincere and exact truthfulness is the proximate cause of honesty!All evil states and crimes converge upon transgression of Truth...Devotion to Truth is the only reliable foundation of all Nobility!

Like The Buddha demand of your own mind: You have to give me an honest answer, understand! I won't accept anything phony. And once you've answered, you have to stick to that very answer and not slide or glide around. Don't be a traitor to yourself! Be sober & straight!Therefore: Accept now this 4th training rule of avoiding all false speech!

If one is not true to the Buddha's teachings, the Buddha's teachings will not be true to oneself, either! That Dhamma, which is used as a costume, surface, uniform or alibi, does not bear fruit, as it's intention is not true!True Honesty, however, makes you quite worthy of respect!

If one is painstakingly honest towards oneself, one thereby also becomes meticulously honest towards others. If one on the contrary deceives oneself, believing own lies, one automatically also deceives others, betraying them.Honesty, however, always makes you quite worthy of respect...

Make an island of yourself, be your own light and illumination,make yourself your only safe haven; there is no other protection.Make Truth your only island, make Truth your sole refuge;Make Truth your only lamp; there is no other luminosity.Digha Nikaya, 16

Overcome the furious by friendship.Overcome the evil one by goodness. Overcome the miser by generosity; Overcome the liar by truth. Dhammapada 223

The one who destroys life;The one who speaks false;The one who takes what is not given;The one who mates with another's partner;The one who is addicted to drugs or alcohol;Such one - even in this world - digs up his own root!Dhammapada 246-47

They who falsely declare: "That happened" about what did not happen, or: "I did not do that" about what they actually did, they earn themselves a ticket to grilling in Hell. Dhammapada 306

When the Blessed One heard about the king’s spies, who for money stole information from others, he explained: One should not take just any job.One should not be another’s man. One should not depend on any other.One should not sell the truth for money… Udana VI-2

The Bodhisatta was once caught by a man-eater, which sat him free on the condition that he returned the next day. He kept his word and did so...Much later remembered: Protecting this way of truth, having given up my life and kingdom, I thereby set free 100 captured nobles, as the man-eater lost his nerve. In honesty I thereby reached the ultimate perfection!Mahasutasoma-Jataka no. 537

Only determination can completely fulfill the other mental perfections!Its characteristic is an unwavering decision, its function is to overcome hesitation, and its manifestation is unfaltering persistence in this task...! The proximate cause of determination is strong willpower to succeed!Only the power of resolute determination lifts any praxis to perfection...

When the Future Buddha placed his back against the trunk of The Bodhi Tree, he right there made this mighty decision: "Let just the blood and flesh of this body dry up and let the skin & sinews fall from the bones. I will not leave this seat before having attained thatabsolute supreme Enlightenment!" So determined did he invincibly seat himself, from which not even 100 earthquakes could make him waver. Jataka Nidana

A female lay follower (Upasika) at the time of the Buddha kept pure the precepts, comprehended the nature of impermanence, the consequentfragility of the body and thereby won stream-entry (Sotapanna)...After passing away, she re-arose as the favourite attendant of Sakka,the king of Gods. Reviewing her own merit, she remembered her prioradmonition to herself:

"Let this body break up as it may,herein will not be any excuse orrelaxation of the effort...!"

Whose mind is like a rock, determined, unwavering, immovable,without a trace of lust of urging towards all the attractions,without a trace of aversion of pushing away all the repulsive,from what, can such a refined mind ever suffer? Udana IV - 4

Using the tools of Faith, Morality, Effort, Determination, Meditation and true Understanding of the Dhamma, one gradually perfects first knowing and then behaviour. So well equipped & always aware, one becomes capable of eliminating of this great heap of suffering once and for all ... Dhammapada 144

What is being determined by Right Motivation?The decision for always being motivated to withdrawal,The decision for always being motivated to good-will,The decision for always being motivated to harmlessness,This is being determined by Right Motivation...Samyutta Nikaya XLV 8

My mind is firm like a rock,unattached to sensual things,no shaking in the midst of a world, where all is decaying and vanishing...My mind has been thus well developed,so how can suffering ever touch me? Theragatha 194

The four determinations:One should not neglect the Dhamma,One should guard well the Truth,One should be devoted to Withdrawal,and one should always train only for Peace. Majjhima Nikaya 140

Fearing being predestined for Hell if he became a King, who had to punish criminals violently, the Bodhisatta determined not to show any intelligence, and played dumb, deaf and crippled for sixteen years, only showing his realabilities, when he was on the verge of being buried alive!This was his ultimate perfection of resolute determination... The Basket of Conduct: Cariyapitaka

The Blessed Buddha once said:I am a friend and helper to all,I am sympathetic to all living beings.I develop a mind full of love & onewho always delight in harmlessness!I gladden my mind, fill it with joy,and make it immovable and unshakable.I develop these divine states of mindnot cultivated by simple men.Theragatha 648-9

I am a friend of the footless,I am a friend of the bipeds;I am a friend of those with four feet,I am a friend of the many-footed.May not the footless harm me,may not the bipeds harm me,may not those with four feet harm me, &may not those with many feet harm me.AN II 72

A friend, who always lends a hand,a friend both in sorrow and joy,a friend who offers good counsel,a friend who sympathizes too. These are the four kinds of true friends:One who is wise, who have understood much,will always cherish and serve such friendsjust as a mother tends her only child. DN III, 188

Among tigers, lions, leopards & bears I lived in the jungle. No one was frightened of me, nor did I fear anyone.Uplifted by such universal friendliness, I enjoyed the forest.Finding great solace in such sweetly silenced solitude…Suvanna-sama Jataka 540

And how does a Bhikkhu abide with his mind imbued with friendlinessextending over one direction? Just as he would feel friendliness onseeing a dearly favourite person, so he extends this same loving-kindnessto all beings in all directions, one by one, & as above so below.Abhidhamma Pitaka: Appamañña-vibhanga

Bhikkhus, whatever kinds of worldly merit there are, all are not worthone sixteenth part of the release of mind by universal friendliness;in shining, glowing and beaming radiance, in invisible shielding protection,such release of mind by universal friendliness far excels & surpasses them all... Itivuttaka 27

Equanimity characteristically induces & promotes impartial neutrality...Its function is to look upon things with an even unreactive indifference!Its manifestation is the gradual stilling of both attraction & repulsion..Its proximate cause is seeing, that all inherit the results of their actions.Its effect is utter purification & perfection of all other mental qualities,by ending both discontent & delight, thereby providing the necessaryequal calm required for their complete assessment & accomplishment.

Calm is his mind.Calm is his speech.Calm is his action.So is the Tranquility;So is the Equanimity;Of one freed by the InsightOf right Knowledge. Dhammapada 96

Although a man is richly dressed and adorned,if he is in peace, at ease, in equanimity, calmed,composed, controlled, celibate and harmlesstowards all beings, then verily he is a Holy One,a recluse, a sage ... Dhammapada 142

Equanimity towards one's own internal states -that is indeed a link to Enlightenment.Equanimity regarding external phenomena & conditions -that is indeed also a link to Enlightenment.Samyutta Nikaya V Bojjhanga-samyutta.

Such noble friend finally developsthe link to awakening that is Equanimityduring Awareness of in-&-out breathing,which protects against damaging mental states,tends to detachment, to ceasing, tends to release& culminates in complete self-surrender...If, friends, Awareness of in-&-out breathing,is so cultivated and so made much of, it isindeed of great fruit, of great advantage! One whose Awareness of breathing in-&-out is perfected, well developed, and gradually brought to refined growth thus, according to the teaching of the Buddha, such one illuminates the entire world, just like the full moon freed from clouds. Samyutta Nikaya V Anapana-samyutta.

The Blessed One once said:Now how, Ananda, in the discipline of a Noble One is therethe unsurpassable development of the senses?There is the case where, when seeing a form with the eye,there arises in a monk what is agreeable, or what is disagreeable,or what is both agreeable & disagreeable. He recognizes that:This agreeable thing has arisen in me, or this disagreeable thing...or this both agreeable & disagreeable thing, has arisen in me:And that is constructed, conditioned, coarse & dependently co-arisen!But this is peaceful, this is exquisite, namely even & equal equanimity!Instantly, that arisen agreeable or disagreeable thing ceases,and Equanimity takes its calm stance!Just as a man with good eyes, having closed them, might open them;or when open, might close them, that is how quickly, how rapidly,how easily, no matter what it refers to, Equanimity makewhatever arisen agreeable thing... or disagreeable thing...or both agreeable & disagreeable thing cease right there,and Equanimity takes its even stance!In the discipline of The Noble One, this is called the unsurpassable development of the senses with regard to visible forms cognizable by the eye. Similar is the supreme development of the other senses.MN 152

With the fading of rapturous joy, he remains in equanimity,aware & alert, still physically sensitive to bodily pleasure.He enters & remains in the third jhana, of which the Noble Onesdeclare: 'In aware Equanimity, one abides in pleasure...' With the stilling of pleasure & pain as with the earlier disappearanceof elation & frustration, he enters & remains in the fourth jhana:sole Awareness purified by equanimity, - neither pleasure nor pain -This is called Right Concentration... The elimination of both sensual desires & of discontent,the ejection of laziness, the calming of all regrets,just this pure Equanimity being aware of all mental properties exactly at the moment they appear:That I call the direct knowledge of releasethe breakthrough from ignorance. Sutta Nipata V 13: Udaya's Questions

Equanimity is 'Tatra-majjhattata', which designates the evenly balancedkeeping to the moderate middle of all things. It has as characteristic, that it affects the balance of consciousness and mental properties as a single function of single taste, which prevents both overt excessiveness and any lack or insufficiency. Equanimity thereby puts an end to biased partiality bymanifesting moderation well within range of the properly reasoned midway. Visuddhimagga XIV

The Buddha once explained: I would make my bed in a charnel ground, with a skeleton for my pillow..And cowherd boys came up and spat on me, urinated on me, threw dirt at me, and poked sticks into my ears! While others, exultant & thrilled brought me offerings of food, caskets of perfume & incense and garlands of flowers!Yet I do not recall, that I ever showed any partiality towards any of them...I was the same to them all! Neither arousing any fondness nor any aversion! This was my ultimate perfection of equanimity...MN 12 LomahamsanapariyayaThe Hair-raising PresentationCariyapitaka III 15

1st Perfection: Generosity (Dana):Just as a water pot turned upside down lets all its liquid run out, and takes none of it back, so is the perfection of generosity not having the slightest remorse over what has been given away, even when sacrificing everything!2nd Perfection: Morality (Sila):Just as a yak whose tail is caught in bush will rather die than to tear it off, so consists the perfection of morality in being meticulously careful about keeping all precepts and promises & not breaking them in any circumstance, even if being threatened with death!3rd Perfection: Withdrawal (Nekkhamma):Just as one imprisoned in jail does not desire anything more intensely than to get out of there, so the perfection of withdrawing renunciation consists in the longing to get out of the prison of transitory existence & having only this one wish: To spit out the impermanent, to be rid of it once and for all!4th Perfection: Understanding (Pañña):Just as a monk on alms-round neglects no house, but goes to all the families without exception, so the perfection of understanding consists in leaving no gaps, leaving nothing out, & of being ready to learn from all wise people, who are more advanced, even though they may be younger than oneself.5th Perfection: Energy (Viriya):Just as a lion marshals his strength whether standing, going, or sitting even so does the perfection of energetic & enthusiastic effort consist in keeping on striving with initiative launching into action, that endures until fulfilment!6th Perfection: Patience (Khanti):Just as the great earth accepts even the most disgusting things thrown onto it, so consists the perfection of patience in accepting slander, disgrace and every disrespect without aversion, enduring them, while letting them pass. 7th Perfection: Honesty (Sacca):Just as a star never strays from its fixed orbit, so consists the perfection of honest truthfulness in not lying under any circumstances, not moving even an inch from the actual and real truth for any trivial advantage whatsoever.8th Perfection: Determination (Adhitthana):Just as a mountain stands immoveable even in the strongest storm and is incapable of being thrown over, so consists the perfection of determination in remaining unshakeable in one's advantageous choices and not being ableto be distracted by anything when pursuing something good and beneficial.9th Perfection: Friendliness (Metta):Just as water refreshes and cleanses both just and unjust persons without discrimination, so does the perfection of friendliness include both friends and foes alike and doesn't display any distinction, favouritism, or partiality.10th Perfection: Equanimity (Upekkha):Just as the great earth remains unmoved and equanimous, avoiding like and dislike whether one throws pure or impure things onto it, even so does the perfection of equanimity consist in always remaining, calm and composed, neither being repulsed nor attracted, whether by any pain or any pleasure. Imperturbable even in strong conflicts as well as in the greatest success!

Sujata perfecting generosity by giving The Buddha his last meal before Awakening!

Saketa was the place where Venerable Sariputta said this to Venerable Anuruddha:Friend Anuruddha, by cultivating and making much of which conditions have you developed such mighty magic power and supreme majesty ?

Friend, it is by cultivating and making much of the Four Foundations of Awareness that I have done so. What four? Herein friend,

I dwell contemplating body just as a form ... & the rise and fall of body ...both own and other ... internal and external ... past, present and future!I dwell contemplating feeling just as reaction ... & the rise and fall of feeling ...both own and other ... internal and external ... past, present and future!I dwell contemplating all mind just as moods ... & the rise and fall of mind ...both own and other ... internal and external ... past, present and future!I dwell contemplating all phenomena just as mental states ...& rise and fall of mental states ... both own and other ... internal and external ...whether past, present and future!

Moreover, friend it is by cultivating and making much of these Four Foundations of Awareness that I have come to completely & directly experience this thousandfold galactic world-system.Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness that the painful feelings that come upon my body make no contact on my mind. Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness that I enjoy many forms of magic powers: From being one I become many, visible or invisible ...& even as far as the fine material Dark matter Brahma world do I exert power with my body.Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness,that I hear with divine hearing purified and supra-human the sound of both man and deva, far or near.Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness,that I know the minds of other beings; the lustful as lustful ... the liberated as liberated.Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness,that I know, as it really is, the cause of any given event and what is not the cause of this event.Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness,that I know as they really are the cause and conditions of any given action, whether performed in the past, future or present time.Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness,that I know, as it really is, the gradual and final result of any given practise.Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness,that I know, as they really are, the diverse character of whatever being.Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness,that I know, as they really are, the natures of other beings and persons minds.Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness,that I know, as they really are, the corruption, purification and uprising of the attainments of anytrance, mental release and concentration.Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness,that I can remember my past lives, as they really were: One, two ... thousand births in all their minutest detail and peculiarity.Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness,that I know and see with divine supra-human sight, as they really are, the going & coming of beings,death & rebirth, transmigrating according to their behaviour.Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness,that I know, as it really is, in this very life, by my own unaided ability, the destruction of the mentalfermentations, & the calm blissful dwelling in release & insight freed from all mental fermentation...

By knowing that:Mutual Joy is the proximate cause of sweet, fully satisfied contentment!Lack of mutual joy is therefore the proximate cause of discontentment!Mutual Joy instantly eliminates acidic jealousy, grudge and green envy!Mutual Joy is an infinite, truly divine, elevating and sublime mental state!Mutual Joy is 1 of the 4 mental states of the Brahma-devas (Brahmavihara)

The Blessed Buddha pointed out: If it were impossible to cultivate this Good, I would not tell you to do so!

Buddhaghosa:See how this worthy being is very Happy!How fine! How excellent! How sweet!

Let there be Happiness. Let there be open Freedom.Let there be Peace. Let there be Bliss from cultivating this.Let there be Understanding of this mental state of Mutual Joy!

A Brahmin Priest once asked the Blessed Buddha:Master Gotama, what is the cause of being unable to remember something that has been memorized over a long period and also that which has not been memorized?Brahmin, when then mind is agitated by restlessness and regret, stressed, agitated, troubled and tyrannized by restlessness and regret, & one does neither know, nor understand any actual safe escape from this dominating restlessness and regret, in that moment, then one can neither see, nor everunderstand what is advantageous, neither for oneself, nor for others, nor for both oneself and for others. Then, consequently, even texts, that have been long memorized, cannot be remembered. Why is this blind neglect so? Imagine a bowl of water with the surface stirred up by wind into ripples, undulations & small wavelets. If a man with good eye-sight were to inspectthe reflection of his own face in it, he would neither see nor recognize it, as it really is! So too, brahmin, when the mind is distracted by restlessness and regret, excited, anxious, distressed, worried, perturbed and upset by restlessness and regret, on any such occasion even texts long memorized do not recur to the mind, not to speak of those texts, events & knowledge, that have not been memorized at all…

The brahmin Magandiya asked the Buddha about how to become calmed:Not dwelling in the past, stilled in the present, one prefers no kind of future!Without irritation, without agitation, without regrets, without worry, neitherboasting, nor proud, but humble and modest, one is indeed a restrained sage...Withdrawn, not opposed to anything, not wanting anything, all unconcerned,aloof, gentle, independent, for such one there exists neither craving or fear for any kind of existence, nor craving or fear for any form of non-existence...Such calmed one is indifferent to sense pleasures, detached, not clinging toany kind of property! For him there is nothing more to take up or lay down!For whatever others might accuse him, he remains tranquil and not agitated!Neither opposing anything, nor attracted to anything, with nothing of his own, not perturbed by what does not exist, such tranquil one is truly calmed! Sutta-Nipata 849-861 Edited excerpt.

The Blessed Buddha once explained:Whatever meritorious action one performs, all these together are not worth 1/16th part of a mind released into friendliness, since the mind released into friendliness blazes forth, & outshines all with an unsurpassable brilliance... Just as the radiance from all the stars and planets does not match even a 1/16th part of the radiance from the moon, which thus outshines all the stars and planets, similarly; whatever intention making one do meritorious actions,all these together are not worth one-sixteenth fraction, of the mind released by infinite friendliness!!! Since a mind released into friendliness - all alone - friends!! blazes forth, outshine all these with an incomparable radiance... Just as the mighty sun rising at autumn dawn, by making any fog evaporate,scattering any dark thundercloud, makes the sky all blue & clear, so it alonefreely shines, blazes in a blue brilliance, - exactly so - whatever thoughts there may be for gaining merit, all together these are not worth one 16th fraction, of a mind released into friendliness!!! Since the mind released into friendliness - all alone - outshines all these with inestimable luminosity! So did the Lord Buddha state this matter, and he further added: For the Noble friend, who by will, who fully aware and deliberately bring infinite, boundless and endless friendliness into being, this mountain like limitless goodwill makes all evil substrate evaporate, & the chains of mind, these mental fetters become thin, slender and slack. If a friend without ill will cares for even one single living being, such friend, through that, becomes quite skilled and clever, so far more for the Noble Friend, who by possessing a caring heart for all sentient beings, without even a single exception, accumulates great, massive, and immense amounts of merit!!! Those gurus and priests who sacrifices life, objects or fire, who baths ceremoniously, devoted to mere forms and empty ritual, blindly attached to and obsessed by culture, tradition of primeval & often unknown origin, do never experience even a 16th of this release of mind by friendliness fully brought into being, just like the vagueness of even all the stars cannot either ever outshine the moon! Since there cannot exist any evil animosity whatsoever, nor enmity at all, neither even an atomic trace of hate in a Nobly Released One, who by caring indiscriminately and infinitely for all living beings, who by possessing such treasure of a mind relinquished by friendliness, simply cannot ever suppress, dominate, harm, or kill even thesmallest sentient breathing being! Luminous is a perfectly released mind!

The Blessed Buddha once said:What, Ananda, is the experience of disgust? Here the Bhikkhu contemplates this body from the soles of the feet upward, and back again from the top of the hair downward, seeing it as frame of bones with a skin stretched over it, and filled with much filthy putrescence such as: head-hairs, body-hairs, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, vomit, spleen,diaphragm, lungs, intestine, mesentery, stomach, excrement, brain, bile, lymph, pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, skin, tallow, spit, slime, snot, joint-fluid, & urine. This is the experience of disgust.

The Grace of Goodwill: A Meditation on Friendliness (Metta):May my mind be filled with the thought of Kind Friendliness & open Amity.May the minds of my good teachers be filled with the thought of Friendliness.May the minds of my parents and dear ones be filled with the thought of Friendliness.May the minds of all unfriendly persons be filled with the thought of Friendliness.May the minds of all living beings be filled with the thought of Friendliness.May the minds of all strangers be filled with the thought of Friendliness.May we be free from fear, tension, anxiety, worry, and restlessness.May our hearts become soft. May our words be pleasing to others.May we be generous. May we be gentle. May we be relaxed. May we be happy and peaceful. May we be healthy.May we be a source of pure peace and happiness.

May the minds of everyone in this room be free from greed, anger, hatred, jealousy, and fear.May the peace and tranquillity of tender Friendliness pervade their entire bodies and minds.May they have good fortune. May they be prosperous. May they have really good friendsMay the minds of everyone in this building, in this street, in this city, in this nation on this continent, on this planet & in this universe be free from greed, anger, & doubt.May these thoughts of Friendliness embrace them, charge them and envelope them.May every cell, every drop of blood, every atom, be charged with kind amity.May the peace & tranquillity of goodwill pervade their entire bodies & minds.May they be happy-hearted. May they be free from worries and troubles.May all beings in all directions throughout this multiverse be happy.May they be filled with Friendliness, abundant, exalted, & infinite!May they be free from enmity affliction, and anxiety.May they live happily.

May all beings in all directions, all around the universe be happy.May they have good fortune. May they be prosperous.May they be famous. May they have good friends.May they be reborn in a happy destination.May they be reborn in the heavens.May all beings Awaken swiftly!May they become thus Happy!

The Buddha indeed pointed out Gratitude as an important mental quality:These two people are hard to find in the world. Which two? The one who is first to do a kindness, and the one who is grateful and thankful for a kindness done.Anguttara Nikaya 2.118

I tell you, monks, there are two people who are not easy to repay. Which two? Your mother & father. Even if you were to carry your mother on one shoulder & your father on the other shoulder for 100 years, & were to look after them by anointing, massaging, bathing, & rubbing their limbs, and they were to defecate and urinate right there on your shoulders, you would not thereby repay your parents. Even if you were to establish your mother & father in absolute sovereignty over this great earth, abounding in the seven treasures, you would not in that way repay your parents!Why is that? Mothers and fathers do much for their children. They care for them, they nourish them for long, and they introduce them to this world. But anyone who rouses his unbelieving mother & father, settles & establishes them in faith; rouses his immoral mother & father, establishes them in virtue; rouses his stingy mother & father, settles & establishes them in generosity; rouses his unwise mother & father, settles & establishes them on a new levelof understanding: It is in this way that one truly repays one's mother's and father's many longstanding services.Anguttara Nikaya 2.32

Mother & father, compassionate to their family, are called Brahma, first teachers, honour them with food & drink, clothing & bedding, and anointing, bathing, washing their feet. Performing these services to their parents, the wise are praised right here and after death rejoice in heaven. Itivuttaka 106

If this is what you think of me: The Blessed One, is sympathetic, is seeking our well-being, teaches us thisDhamma out of sympathy, then you should train yourself in being in harmony, cordial, and without conflict and train in yourselves cultivation of all the 37 best mental qualities: The 4_Foundations_of_Awareness, the 4 right efforts, the 4_Feet_of_Force, the 5 Abilities, 5 powers, the 7 Links to Awakening, & the Noble_8-Fold_Way. Majjhima Nikaya 103A Tathagata is worshipped, honoured, respected, thanked & shown gratitude by any follower, who keeps practicing the Dhamma in accordance with trueDhamma, who keeps practicing masterfully, who lives in and by the Dhamma!Digha Nikaya 16

We will undertake & practice those qualities that makes one a contemplative, so that all those who helped us by services of robes, alms-food, lodging, and medicines will bring them great fruit and great future reward. Majjhima Nikaya 39

Comments:In Pali, the word for gratitude = kataññu literally means to have a sense of what was done for one in the past even when long ago. Remembering all help! A network of kindness and gratitude is what sustains whatever goodness there is and ever will be in this - otherwise destitute & impoverished - world!

Nibbana is:Total ease, complete calm, absolute freedom, perfect happiness & pure peace…Absence of any uncertainty, doubt, confusion, any delusion and all ignorance…Presence of confidence, certainty, understanding all, and direct experience…Absence of any greed, lust, desire, urge, attraction, hunger, and temptation…Presence of imperturbable and serene composure in an all stilled equanimity…Absence of all hate, anger, aversion, hostility, irritation, & stubborn rigidity…Presence of universal goodwill: An infinite & all-embracing friendly kindness…Nibbana is not a place, not an idea, not a fantasy deception, not a conceit, not a conception, not a cause, not an effect, not finite, not definable, not formed, not begun, not ending, not changing, not temporal, but lasting…Nibbana is unborn, unbecome, unmade, uncreated, uncaused, unconditioned, and unconstructed, yet ultimately real…Nibbana is void of eye, visible objects & visual consciousness, void of ear, sounds & auditory consciousness, void of nose, smells & smell consciousness, void of tongue, tastes & gustatory consciousness, void of body, touch & tactile consciousness and void of mind, thoughts and mental consciousness…Pure Peace @ Rest …

The Blessed Buddha once said:Hard it is to see the unconstructed, the undistorted! This independent state is not easily realized. Craving is all cut for the One, who knows, since he sees, that there is nothing to cling to ... !!! Udana – Inspiration: VIII - 2

In any dependence there is bound to be instability. In free independence there cannot be any instability. When there is no liable instability, no feeble wavering, there is a quiet calm, stillness, serenity and peace.When there is such solid tranquillity, then there is no tendency to drift, no attraction, neither any mental push, nor any pull, nor any strain of appeal or repulsion. When there is no attraction, no drift, no bending, then there is no movement, no development, and neither any coming, & much less any going. Neither any starting, nor any ending occurs... When there is neither any coming,nor any going, then there is neither any ceasing, nor any re-appearance...There being neither ceasing, nor reappearing, then there is neither any here, there, beyond, nor in between... This – just this – is the End of Suffering.

Udana – Inspiration: VIII - 4 Having understood this unconstructed state, released in mind, with the chain to becoming eliminated, they attain to the sublime essence of all states. Delighting in the calmed end of craving, those steady Noble Ones have left all being & becoming behind.

By means of Non-Greed, they are not greedy, lusty, desirous, yearning or longing. Non-greed has the characteristic of easy absence of desire for any given object. It does not cling, attach or adhere, but rolls off like a water drop on a lotus leaf!The function of non-greed is not to lay hold on, grasp, fasten or cling to anything.It is manifested as a state of not treating as a shelter, like one who leaves dirt...

Through Non-Hate, they do not react with hate, anger, irritation, or opposition.Non-hate has the characteristic of lack of cruelty. Gently, it does not oppose... Its function is to remove any fever of annoyance, and allay all fury exasperation.Non-hate is manifested as a pleasant and mild agreeableness, like the full moon!

Due to Non-Delusion, they are not ignorant, confused, in doubt, or perplexed...Non-delusion has the characteristic of seeing through, penetrating to the real nature of phenomena, understanding their essence, and not just their appearance.The function of non-delusion is to illuminate the object everywhere, like a lamp. Non-delusion is manifested as non-bewilderment, like a clever guide in a forest.

These three states should be regarded as the roots of all that is advantageous!Vism I 465.

The Blessed Buddha once said:Monks, a Noble should dwell Aware and Composed…This is our instruction to you!

And how does a monk dwell Aware?Herein a friend dwells contemplating any body as a void frame only;as a transient, painful and impersonal neither-me-nor-mine appearance,while alert, ballanced and deliberately aware, thereby overcomingany mental rejection of reality, arised from coveting this world…Exactly so does he dwell with regard to any feeling..with regard to any mood and mentality..with regard to any phenomenon..Only precisely so is this Noble One Acutely Aware!

And how does a monk dwell Composed?Herein a friend dwells fully aware of all feelings, that arise..fully aware of all feelings, that settle..fully aware of all feelings, that cease..Such Noble One dwells fully aware of all thoughts, that arise..fully aware of all thoughts, that remain..fully aware of all thoughts, that stop..Such clever one dwells fully aware of all perceptions, that arise..fully aware of all perceptions, that persist..fully aware of all perceptions, that end..Just so is this Noble One Cool, Calm, and Composed!

Any disciple should dwell Aware and Composed.This is our instruction to you…